Once again, it’s nearly time for the super-specialists of aesthetic plastic surgery to get together for the annual ASAPS meeting. This year, the meeting is in my hometown of Vancouver, Canada, May 3- 8. It’s the best meeting I know of in our field. I always hear neat new ideas there from the thought leaders […]
I’m pleased to announce the arrival of a new line of skin care products at our office – PCA Skin.Their award-winning product line is divided into two parts: daily use products, and their professional-grade peels. What I really like is their individualized approach to skin care. For each common type of problem skin – whether it’s “sensitive” […]
Here’s an update on the progress of ATX-101, an up and coming drug which melts fat by injection. (We’ve reported on this previously in our blog, now here’s the latest news….) It’s like mesotherapy, except with actual science, data and careful clinical testing. In two mid-stage trials, injections of ATX-101 reduced fat deposits under the […]
Every year, we look forward to seeing the statistics from ASAPS. They act as a barometer, refelcting the total volume of procedures in the U.S., and also help us to identify trends in what’s popular, and what’s not. Here are some highlights from their report. 1. If you combine the surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures, […]
Allergan, the makers of Botox, have announced that they recently won an injunction against Merz Pharmaceuticals and Merz Aesthetics. The injunction prohibits Merz from selling Xeomin, a Botox competitor, in the U.S. for 10 months. U.S. District Judge Andrew J. Guilford wrote in his decision that Merz misappropriated trade secrets belonging to Allergan. He wrote, “there […]
As part of Florida House Bill 1263, the new liposuction requirements have passed. This means that any physician (MD or DO) who performs liposuction of more than 1 litre of fat, or any sedation case lasting more than 5 minutes must do so in an accredited surgical facility. Lipo in the back room of a spa, […]
Today, the U.S. FDA gave approval to a third breast implant manufacturer – Sientra – to supply silicone gel-filled breast implants for both cosmetic and reconstructive patients in the U.S. Sientra joins Allergan and Mentor as FDA-approved implant manufacturers. As a condition of approval, Sientra is also required to conduct several ollow-up studies that will assess patient outcomes and safety issues. The FDA […]
Myth #1: Many people mistakenly believe that plastic surgery residency teaches only reconstructive surgical techniques, and not the cosmetic ones. Myth #2: Many people think that the more anatomically limited fields of dermatology, ophthalmology, or facial plastic surgery must get more cosmetic surgery experience during residency than the over-worked plastic surgery resident, who has to […]
This week, an FDA advisory panel voted 20-2 to recommend approval of a new weight loss pill, called Qnexa. Qnexa is a combination of two previously available medications that seem to work together well: phentermine and topiramate. Phentermine is a stimulant, while topiramate is often used for migraine headaches. What’s interesting is that in 2010, […]
Big laser companies just keep getting bigger…. This week, Cutera, the California based laser company, announced that it had acquired laser competitor Iridex for $5+ million, adding Iridex and Laserscope-branded devices to their stable of lasers. Just a few months ago, Solta Medical, the makers of Thermage radiofrequency units and Fraxel lasers, purchased Liposonix, the new FDA-approved fat melting technology, for $35 million. […]
